The 5th Leaderpreneurship Annual Conclave, a premier event honoring leadership, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment, was successfully organized by CII Indian Women Network (IWN), West Bengal.

The event was graced by Dr. Shashi Panja, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industries, Government of West Bengal, Swami Sarvapriyananda Maharaj, Revered Monk of the Ramakrishna Order and Minister, Vedanta Society of New York, Shri Alapan Bandyopadhyay, IAS (Retd.), Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal & Chairman, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), and Mr. R Venkatesh, Group COO, Narayana Health.

Speaking to the audience, Dr. Panja reaffirmed West Bengal’s steadfast commitment to women’s empowerment while expressing gratitude for the opportunity. She underlined that despite not always being treated equally, women in India—and especially in Bengal—have always shown resiliency, leadership, and the capacity to overcome obstacles.

Additionally, Dr. Panja emphasized the progressive efforts of the West Bengal government, under the leadership of Hon. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to support women and girls throughout the state. She mentioned flagship programs like Rupashree, Lakshmir Bhandar, and Kanyashree, which were well-known throughout the world for advancing social security, education, and financial empowerment for women.

Dr. Panja also discussed the progress made in Bengal, which has the second-highest number of women-led MSMEs in India. She emphasized the success of microbusinesses run by women entrepreneurs who benefited from easily accessible loans and government assistance, especially in handloom, muslin, and small-scale manufacturing.

The Minister also underlined the significance of inclusive growth, nutrition, and child rights, pointing out that Bengal continued to push for better human development metrics while making sure that social welfare programs were accessible to the general public.

Insightful talks on leadership, skill development, and the changing role of women in business and society were held at the conclave, which was attended by academicians, business owners, industry executives, and female professionals.

The event confirmed CII IWN’s dedication to developing female leaders and building an environment that supports their career and business goals.

Priyanka Dutta